Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to deal with a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police consider was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen operating away from the building carrying what seemed to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing under renovation to accommodate the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to offer other well being care services for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for women to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

A person who known as authorities before daybreak saw someone running from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No injuries were reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, mentioned clinic organizers had been receiving harassing emails and telephone messages. The building had video cameras that were functioning, and police were given entry to them, she mentioned.

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned Burkhart, a former associate of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion supplier who was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas, church in 2009.

Protests have been held this spring by abortion opponents on the future clinic website, and signs opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an residence next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one among 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger law that would immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will occur soon.

Police briefly closed off the road the place the small building is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the building's home windows had been broken, and smoke damage was visible around one shattered window.